Hatch-cover fastener.



B. Y. MOORE & M. MULHOLLAND.

' HATCH COVER FA$TENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911.

1,019,343, Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD Y. MOORE AND MATHEW MULI-IOLLAND, F CLEVELAND, OHIO; SAID MOOItE ASSIGNOR T0 SAID MULHOLLAND.

HATCH-COVER FASTENER.

' Hatch-Cover Fasteners, of which the fol lowing is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

Our invention relates to hatch-cover fasteners, 1ts ob ect being to provide a fastener which will be economical in its structure and efficlent in its operatlon.

The said lnventlon consists of means which are hereinafter fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying our invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying our invention, shown in conjunction with a fragmentary portion of the coaming of a hatchway and a hatchway cover. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken upon the plane indicated by line IIII in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the link which forms a part of the invention.

Our invention as illustrated, comprises in its structure a bracket A which is secured in any suitable manner to the coaming A of the hatchway. This bracket has an upwardly extending portion a provided with a threaded opening a which receives the horizontal threaded portion 1) of the fastening screw B. A clamping member C is provided with the usual horizontal portion 0 and with a vertical portion 0'. The lower part of this vertical portion is provided with an elongated slot 0 through which the horizontal portion of the bracket A projects. This clamping member has upward and downward play on the bracket and may therefore be moved downwardly so as to cause the portion 0 thereof to press tightly upon the marginal portion of the hatchcover D. Immediately above the slot 0 the clamping member is provided with an out Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912. Serial No. 637,046.

wardly and downwardly inclined wedge surface 0 An intermediate member consisting of a link E, is interposed between the fastening screw B and the clamping member C. This link is provided with an inclined surface 6 corresponding in its inclination with the wedge surface 0 and is mounted upon the bracket A so as to surround the horizontal port-ion a thereof. The opening a of the link is of dimensions such that the wedge surfaces 0 and 6 may engage each other while the lower end of the link is engaging the under surface of the horizontal portion M, as shown in Fig. 2. The parts are furthermore designed so that when the link is in the position just described, when the member C is in contact with the upper surface of the hatch-cover, while in contact with the batten-strip F, the latter being in contact with the coaming, the inner vertical face of the link will be removed some distance from the outer vertical and adjacent opposing surface of the member G. The location of the clamping screw B is such that its inner end is opposite the upper portion of the link. It will therefore be seen that this screw may be turned so that its inner end will engage this link, and a further turning thereof will cause the link to move inwardly. This inward movement therefore causes the two inclined surfaces to move upon each other. The link being, however, immovable vertically, it will be seen that such inward movement will be accompanied by a downward or clamping movement of the member C, as well as an inward movement of such member, which will efi'ect the clamping of the batten-strip F against the coaming.

It will be seen that the parts may be so designed that the free space between the link and the opposite face of the member C may be made sufficiently great to permit of a. wide range of movement downwardly and inwardly of such member C before the link will come into contact with said member C. A considerable variation of the thickness of the hatch-cover or of the thickness of the batten-strip will, in consequence, nevertheless permit this hatch-fastener to be used without change or adjustment, as will be readily understood. Y

When it is desired to detach the fasteners for the purpose of removing the hatchcover, fastening-screw B is turned into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This permits the link E to be removed from engagement with the member C, and to be turned around so as to depend from the bracket A in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The link being in this position, member C may now be lifted upwardly and disengaged from the hatchcover by turning it around upon the bracket A.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim therefore and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hatch-cover fastener, the combination of a bracket secured to the coaming of the hatchway; a clamping member adapted to engage the hatch cover and capable of downward movement; a tightening screw mounted in said bracket; and a member interposed bet-ween said screw and said clamping member, and adapted to be engaged by said screw; said clamping member and interposed member provided with cooperating inclined faces whereby the engagement of such interposed member by said screw will effect the inward and downward movementof said clamping member.

2. In a hatch-cover fastener, the combination of a bracket secured to the coaming of the hatchway; a clamping member adapted to engage the upper surface of the hatch cover, surrounding said bracket, and capable of downward movement; a screw mounted in said bracket; and a link interposed between said screw and clamping member, surrounding said bracket and also capable of downward movement, said screw adapted to engage said link; the latter and said clamping member being provided with cooperating inclined faces whereby the engagement of the screw and link will eifect the downward and inward movement of said clamping member.

8. In a hatch-cover fastener, the combina tion of a bracket secured to the coaming of the hatchway; a clamping member having a vertical and a horizontal portion, said horizontal portion adapted to engage the cover of the hatchway, and said vertical portion being provided with a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface; a member adapted to engage said bracket and provided with an inclined surface cooperating with the inclined surface upon said clamping member; and a fastening member mounted in said bracket and adapted to effect the engagement of said bracketengaging member and clamping member, whereby the latter is pulled downwardly and moved inwardly toward the coaming of the hatchway.

Signed by us, this 24th day of June, 1911.

EDWVARD Y. MOORE. MATHEW MULHOLLAND. Attested by CUBT B. MUELLER, W'INIFRED FLEMING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

